In Hindi-Urdu the inability or unwillingness to specify the subject of an action may lead speakers to use the passive, even if the verb is intransitive:
1. p:_aðs: kñ G:r s:ð
s:ØI-t:ag:a l:ðn:ð daò_a j:a
rha hò.
'People are running to get a needle and thread from
the neighbors.'
(from § 1 of )ðm:c:nd's Idg:ah. See context.)
Because the passive of an intransitive verb has nothing to agree with it always assumes the default masculine third person singular form in -Aa:
2. t:ðl:i kñ G:r B:ag:a j:at:a
hò.
'People are running to the oil-man's house.'
(from § 1 of )ðm:c:nd's Idg:ah. See context.)
This use of the passive of intransitives is not common. For other, more common uses, see notes on rha n:hiø j:at:a and the passive of incapacity.
To index of grammatical notes.
To index of m:lhar.
Drafted 22-23 Sep 2001. Posted 24 Sep 2001.